Story Twenty-One 

 

 

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

Follyfoot is looking after a valuable racehorse colt called 'Lancer' for Dora's uncle, the Colonel, as well as 'Bonaparte', an ex-police horse, who has become the colt's self-appointed and jealous protector. For some reason, 'Bonaparte' is suspicious of Slugger, and hounds him from Follyfoot. Slugger boards up in the staff wing of the Colonel's mansion but unable to sleep, goes for a walk around the Colonel's stables and finds men creeping around. He is coshed from behind by Brady, who along with Mulligan and Stoat, are looking for 'Lancer'. When Slugger does not turn up, Dora and Steve find the police at her uncle's, investigating the unconscious Slugger's attack. Brady now thinks 'Lancer' is at Follyfoot, and gets Mulligan to distract Ron while he and Stoat try and steal the colt. 'Bonaparte' stops the attempt, the crooks limping off in defeat, so the next time at night, Brady drugs the police horse. But when he recovers, 'Bonaparte' astonishingly tracks the scent of 'Lancer'. In the meantime, Slugger recovers and identifies Mulligan and Stoat from police photos. By the time ‘Bonaparte' has led Steve, Dora and Ron to where 'Lancer' is kept, and made its own attack on Brady and his men, the police arrive to mop up.

 

 

Story Twenty-Two

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

With some time off, Ron takes his motorbike for a private scramble over the moors. He is warned to away from Long Scranton Ranges, where the army are due to test top secret weapon, but in the wilderness of Rotten Fell he comes across two men with binoculars and telescopic camera who are anything but friendly. Meeting Dora and Steve who are out exercising their horses, Ron believes the men are spying, and they report this to the police. But as they leave Steve overhears the police dismiss the matter, and they venture out to stop the men. It turns out to be a misunderstanding - Burke and Stevens are ornithologists, birdwatchers observing the secret nest of harriers never before known to have nested in Britain. Unscrupulous sorts might try and steal the eggs, and at that moment three armed men appear intent on that. Dora whistles their horse into action, and the egg stealers are beaten.

 

 

Story Twenty-Three

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

Mister Jenkins brings 'Ebeneezer', one of the biggest, rawest, most stubborn mules known for a fortnight's board at Follyfoot while he is on holiday. He takes an interest in Ron, and his liquorish allsorts, and is left in his trust while Dora and Steve take a group of riders on a week's horseback camping in the wilds. But among them is the arrogant Nigel Mulliner, who has been riding since the age of six, challenging the more experienced Dora and Steve. As Slugger and Ron try and handle 'Ebeneezer', Nigel takes a fall, and crosses Steve more than once, as the group make first camp in an old shepherd hut. As night and mist falls, Steve wakes to find Nigel gone for a night ride. Lost, the boy falls over a ravine and lies unconscious twenty feet down. By daylight, Dora returns to Follyfoot for help, as the only chance is a helicopter from the RAF station. But lying under an overhang, Nigel is beyond rescue by this method. one of the camping group mentions using mules to run up and down mountain tracks in India, and Steve realises they may have a rescuer in 'Ebeneezer'. Ridden by Ron, and coaxed by liquorish allsorts, the mule makes the treacherous journey down and saves the boy.

 

 

Story Twenty-Four

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

On the death of his master, ‘Paddy’ an ancient carthorse comes to Follyfoot. But listless and forlorn, it seems he is pining and refuses to take an interest in anything. Old Mr Jackson, proprietor of a one-man bus service running between outlying farms, has been told to close down by the council. Giving them a petition not to take his licence away the council refuse, so Jackson smashes the windows in the municipal bus depot and is taken to jail. The Colonel, who has influence with the local magistrates, joins Dora, Steve and Ron as Jackson appears in court the next day. Meanwhile, Slugger has an idea to harness up 'Paddy' to a farm-wagon, and takes it to town. With Jackson nearly in contempt of court for wanting to keep his job, Sluggers appears with a suggestion the bus driver can still work, using a horse-drawn version. Jackson started on a horse-bus, and the case is dismissed with everyone happy.

 

 

Story Twenty-Five

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Martin Asbury

Follyfoot has visitors from the county authority, whose job it is to inspect arrangements for keeping livestock. While agreeing the stables are well-run, new regulations mean they are too cramped and the stalls have to be broadened. Dora is concerned they will be closed down if they do not comply but practical as ever, Steve arranges for the horses to be stabled at the Colonel's place, while she continues to train with 'Copper Prince' for the show-jumping competition. As she does, Dora realises she is being watched by Kevin Bately, her closest rival in the competition. Bately is an old friend of Steve's and has been invited to Follyfoot, which an overwrought Dora takes the wrong way. As things get out of hand between Dora and Steve, resulting in him not returning that evening, crooked land agent Martin Haffer is given inside information by Smail, who advises the closure of Follyfoot which could give him the development area he needs. That night, Dora is woken by 'Copper Prince', disturbed by two men she spots and scares off. Believing it to be Steve and Kevin, she wakes up Ron and Slugger, and when Steve does appear, Dora does not believe his innocence and he storms off. The real culprits are Haffer and Smail, and when Ron and Slugger go to town next day, Smail draws off Dora on her horse. But 'Copper Prince' is felled by a rabbit hole, and Dora breaks her collar bone when thrown. Smail blows Haffer's cover, and the injured Dora realises her mistake before Ron and Slugger return and take her to hospital. Steve is called and, despite the bad feeling between them, decides to ride 'Copper Prince' against Kevin. By a single fault Steve wins, to see Dora, arm in sling, waving a 'sorry' sign from the crowd. Not wanting to have hard feelings, Kevin says he and Dora can fight out the show-jumping next year, and she and Steve are friends once more.



German Edition

 

 

Story Twenty-Six

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

Reports that wild ponies of the Dales above Follyfoot are being shot for their hides infuriates Dora. But when police patrolling the area discover well-known poacher Amos Culworth, who has only ever hunted rabbits and birds for his family, and arrest him, Dora is driven to act. Decoying the police, she rescues Amos from arrest and brings him to Follyfoot to hide. The Colonel has just brought in 'Joseph', a friend's horse, for a couple of weeks boarding, but as he leaves, Dora arrives with Culworth, and Ron points out his wife and family will need protection from the police too. The real culprits are Cargill and Lacey, and as Steve and Dora look for Mrs Culworth and son Ted, Slugger and Amos unknowingly find the hunters and help pull their bogged down Rover out of deep mud. Caught by police, Amos uses his tracking skills to lead them to the hunters, and clear his name.

 

 

Story Twenty-Seven

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

Ron has been bitten by the railway bug, from helping the Runleigh Railway Preservation Society clear up a disused line, to building a model version in his flat. Dora is concerned he may leave Follyfoot but he tells her it is just a hobby, and seems more dedicated to one horse than usual. 'Dandy', a huge shire he wants to pull a replica of the first horse-drawn wagon. The press show a keen interest in the society, as do two men, Garrick and MacSween, watching as Mr Deacon, the society secretary, Ron and two others run a test wagon along the line through the hill quarries. They cause a rock fall which nearly kills the men on the wagon, and blocks the line to their quarry hideout, until Steve and Dora volunteer to use the riding class horses and kids to help clear the way. Suspicious, Steve looks around and finds a new pound note, which means someone had been there recently. Deacon is puzzled, as there has been no opposition to them, official or otherwise. Steve looks around on his horse 'Alex', and is ambushed by the men, forced to run as they hunt him through the quarry and over a dangerous scree drop. He barely makes it to a roadside cafe but when he uses the pound note to get change for a phone call, the owner sees it is a dud and calls the police. Believing Steve dead, Garrick and his men are forgers, working a press in a cave. But they want to make sure there are no more snoopers, and plan to wreck the preservation society. 'Alex' returns to Follyfoot alone and, sensing trouble, Dora rides to find Ron at the society rail shed, just as Garrick's gang turns up. They barely get away on Dora's horse but find the local policeman away; he is at the cafe and knows Steve, and his past criminal record. Garrick and his men are now moving the press out of the cave to a new location but Steve, under arrest, persuades the police to investigate the quarry. Dora and Ron have also taken it onto themselves to investigate, believing Steve is a prisoner, but on entering the empty cave, Garrick throws dynamite at the entrance. The police arrive, and Steve risks his life on Dora's horse 'Copper Prince' to throw the explosive clear at the last second. Garrick and his gang are arrested, Steve's name is cleared, and Ron has his big moment at the preservation society event. There is a lot of good publicity; mention of the forgers and Steve's bravery, which has a startling turn of events. For Steve receives a phone call from Mason's Circus, offering him a job as a stunt rider...

 

 

Story Twenty-Eight

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Mike Noble

Mason, owner of the circus, arrives at Follyfoot to enquire if Steve has considered his offer. Steve is torn between a chance in a million career, or leaving his friends, but decides to look the circus over with Mason. The circus' star rider 'Ivan the Terrible' has left, and Mason needs a replacement to ride 'Whirlwind', the 'toughest, baddest horse' he owns. Steve manages the feat, and is offered the job, but he learns 'Ivan' quit under mysterious circumstances. Now living in a caravan at the circus, he invites Dora and Ron to see his first show. A bomb has been planted next to his butane gas tank under his new home by Dino, henchman for Mr Gorescu, who does not want the circus to open. It is only luck a nightmare Steve has makes him leave the caravan to check on his horse 'Alex' that saves his life. The explosion and fire seem a bad omen to the superstitious circus folk, and some acts quit. Steve calls on Dora to replace one riding act, and Ron becomes a clown! The new faith holds the circus together for the first show but Dino makes sure one of Captain Strang's lions get free and threaten the audience. Steve bravely stares the lion down, a trick used on horses, until it is caged again. Dora finds the lock was cut deliberately, and evidence points to fire-eater Stromboli being responsible. Mason confronts Stromboli but as the two men go into Mason's caravan to talk further, a shot rings out and Steve, Dora and Ron find the fire-eater standing over Mason's body with a gun. The fire-eater pleads innocence; a hooded man shot Mason and threw him the gun. Mason is only wounded and fresh footprints outside seem to confirm Stromboli's story. Steve calls a bluff at a circus meeting, claiming whoever fired the gun can be identified with a chemical test and Dino, working as a circus roustabout, panics into leaving. Steve and Ron follow him to the city where he heads for the office of Gorescu, equally panicked into cutting and running. Trying to overhear, Steve is discovered and a fight breaks out, until Slugger arrives with his shotgun. Gorescu and Dino try and escape but are caught by the police, which means a reasonable reward from Mason which will keep Follyfoot going for a while and Steve, moving on with the circus, bids farewell.

 

 

Story Twenty-Nine

Writer: Angus Allan
Artist: Stanley Houghton

With Steve gone, Follyfoot is not the same. Ron rides out to fetch Dora for Slugger's supper, and finds her sitting out on the moors. Even with 'Sherry' in foal, Dora seems to have lost all interest in Follyfoot, and is even careless enough to leave a lit lamp in the stable - which catches fire. Ron calms the horses while Slugger extinguishes the fire, and all Dora can do is blame herself, but if Steve had been there it would not have happened. Ron tries to make her see sense, until they hear noises. Amidst the fire, 'Sherry' has foaled, and the new arrival will take Dora's mind off troubles for a while. Slugger suggests calling the foal 'Smokey' but Ron has a better idea, call him 'Steve' to keep the name alive at Follyfoot until he returns.

 

 

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